OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Joan Elliott
• Jay Belfast linen by Picture this Plus, Kreinik, Mill Hill
• Size 11 x 14 inches
• Time to Stitch: 27 days since January 2024

Presenting one of my bucket list pieces, Father Christmas!  

The pattern is fine, I used an old magazine chart but it is currently available, too.  The chart is quite large and detailed with wonderful shading.  A fair amount of fractional stitches are used, mainly for the toy sack, dove, and Santa’s face.  There is a lot of backstitching, in a couple colors, which I did over 3 “sessions”.   There are around 20 french knots, for eyes and decorations.  The most challenging part was the backstitching in his beard, over the page break.  Overall, it was a joy to stitch.  The robe & gown are mostly long bands of color that worked up quickly.  The major modification I made to the the chart was in the backstitching, I don’t do “stair step” backstitch for this kind of fancy chart, I think it deserves smooth curves and sharp corners.   

As for materials, I dithered over my fabric choices, but ultimately I’m pleased with the Jay linen by PTP.  It’s very similar to DMC 794, as that is what I color matched for beading. The white pops and the red looks gorgeous on the blue background.  A fair number of DMC’s are used, 4 reds, 3 whites, 3 or 4 greens, etc. Two Kreinik’s are needed, citron (gold) and gray.  I accidentally used gold #8 braid instead of #4, but I liked how it looked, so I left it.  Three colors of beads are used: gold, rich red, and white opal.  

My favorite parts of the chart are probably his elegant outfit, the cute teddy bear in the sack, and his hat floating in the wind.  Overall the effect is an outdoor scene, he is standing upon snowy ground on a blustery evening, preparing for his midnight journey.  The dove, aloft, puts the finishing touch, a ribbon, on the gift in his hand.  

Father Christmas is my second of my “Joan Elliott Christmas series”…. (two angels, two Santas).  I’m working on the Christmas Blue Angel now and Santa’s Gifts (with the animals) will be a focus next year.  I was all gung ho to start Santa’s gifts, but then I realized his head is very similar to this one, though facing the opposite direction.  My hubby chose another Joan Elliott chart for me to start soon.